Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everybody. I have a question about parasites in BD's and their symptoms. I have a baby BD (about 3-4 mo. old), named Norbert. For the last week or so, he's been acting lethargic - very inactive and just not responding to very much....but he still eats well (he's eating about 6-9 dusted crickets per day). I have the right temps. and lighting (95-105 basking), uva, uvb flourescent light, about 70 at night, etc., but he still goes into "sleep mode" during the day. I've noticed his stool is a little bit runny but I've only had Norbert for a few weeks, so I don't know what "normal stool" is....any help? I collected some stool this morning and we're taking it to the vet today to get it checked. I don't know what "foul smelling" stool is like because to me, all stool stinks!!! So far, that's all the symptoms anyone has told me - runny and foul smelling stool.....if this fecal sample turns out to contain parasites and I get some kind of medication for norbert, how effective is it and how soon should I start to see more "normal" behavior in Norbert??? He was acting fine just a couple of weeks ago....now it's kinda sad to look at him because I know something's wrong. Any help?????? Thanks!

6-9 crix is not a lot for a beardie that age and with the runny stools and his lack of activity, etc I think you have done the right thing by getting a fecal done at the vet. More than likely he is going to come back with coccidia. Probably will get prescribed Albon to treat it. Albon sometimes causes appetite loss in beardies since it cleans them out and not only gets rid of the bad stuff in the gut, but also the good gut flora. You might want to look into getting some Acidophiliz to help restore the good stuff. I would also raise your basking site a little to 100 - 110. If it is coccidia, you will see an improvement in about 2 weeks after the start of treatment.

>>Hello everybody. I have a question about parasites in BD's and their symptoms. I have a baby BD (about 3-4 mo. old), named Norbert. For the last week or so, he's been acting lethargic - very inactive and just not responding to very much....but he still eats well (he's eating about 6-9 dusted crickets per day). I have the right temps. and lighting (95-105 basking), uva, uvb flourescent light, about 70 at night, etc., but he still goes into "sleep mode" during the day. I've noticed his stool is a little bit runny but I've only had Norbert for a few weeks, so I don't know what "normal stool" is....any help? I collected some stool this morning and we're taking it to the vet today to get it checked. I don't know what "foul smelling" stool is like because to me, all stool stinks!!! So far, that's all the symptoms anyone has told me - runny and foul smelling stool.....if this fecal sample turns out to contain parasites and I get some kind of medication for norbert, how effective is it and how soon should I start to see more "normal" behavior in Norbert??? He was acting fine just a couple of weeks ago....now it's kinda sad to look at him because I know something's wrong. Any help?????? Thanks!
-----
Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

Cricket FREE babies!

Thanks for the quick response!!.....If Norbert does have coccidia, I'm getting the idea that he might have gotten it through the food that I gave him. Is there any type of food (crickets, etc) that has a low probability of carrying coccidia or anything I can do to the food to lower its chances? Right now, I feed Norbert store-bought greens (Romaine, Collards, etc) and crickets bought from the pet-store. Are crickets bought in bulk (say, online crix) better at lowering parasite problems???? If so, anyone have any suggestions???? Thanks!

Some think it is cricket related, but nothing solid to prove that yet so I am staying out of that debate LOL.

The best defense against things like that is a clean living environment and preventative treatments each month such as parazap.

Are you using sand substrate? Sand is notorious for not being clean and is great for hiding pieces of poop and harmful bacteria, etc.

>>Thanks for the quick response!!.....If Norbert does have coccidia, I'm getting the idea that he might have gotten it through the food that I gave him. Is there any type of food (crickets, etc) that has a low probability of carrying coccidia or anything I can do to the food to lower its chances? Right now, I feed Norbert store-bought greens (Romaine, Collards, etc) and crickets bought from the pet-store. Are crickets bought in bulk (say, online crix) better at lowering parasite problems???? If so, anyone have any suggestions???? Thanks!
-----
Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

Cricket FREE babies!